Road-sprinkling apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 1a, 1908.

7 B. KORTAS. ROAD SPRINKLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907. Y

Y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED AUG. 18, 1908.

' B. KORTAS. ROAD SPRINKL'ING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rna'r Erik Sf Ji Q? PATENIED'AUG. 18, 1908.

B. KORTAS. I ROAD SPRINKLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION II LED AUG. 12, 1907 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

BERNARD KORTAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JENS SUNDBY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed August 12, 1907. Serial No. 388,178.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD KORTAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-sprinklingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to road sprinkling apparatus and has specialreference to improve ments in sprinklers such as are particularlyadapted for use by street railways to sprinkle the road bed. Although myimproved sprinkler is particularly adapted for such use, it is to beunderstood that it may be used in the form of the usual street srinkling wagon, or even in the small portab e s rinklers for largelawns,without departing rom the scope of my invention.

The object of my invention is to provide a sprinkling apparatus of suchimproved construction that the volume of water discharged therefrom maybe nicely regulated, and wherein the spread of the spray'may be variedat will.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler, asmentioned, of such construction that the volume of dischar e and the sread of the spray may be eas y and quicl y regulated by the operatorfrom the front of the device; that is, by the motorman if in use upon atraction car, or the driver if on a Wagon.

A further object is to provide a device, as mentioned, in which thespray may be quickly and entirely out off on one or both sides, by theoperator, without interfering with or impeding his operation of the caror wagon.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in View, my invention consists generally in asuitable vehicle provided with a water tank, a spraying head suitablyarranged thereon, a discharge slot in said head, means for varying thewidth of said slot to regulate the volume of dischar e, and means forvarying the length of the sot to regulate the spread of the spray.

My invention further consists in an apparatus having the characteristicsmentioned and of such construction that the discharge and spray may beregulated by the operator from the front of the machine.

My invention further consists in various details of construction andarrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in whichFigure 1 is a diagram in elevation, ofa car such as used by streetrailroads in sprinkling the road bed, the same being equipped with aspraying apparatus embodying my inven tion, Fig. 2 is a plan view of thecar bed and sprinkling apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the

tank bemg removed, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, on anenlarged scale, of the sprinkler head, Fig. 4 is a cross section of thehead on the line 9c:c of Fig. 3, Fi 5 is a top plan view, upon asomewhat smal er scale, of

the sprinkler head, illustrating the spray regulator operatingmechanism, Fig. 6 is an end view thereof and Figs. 7 and 8 are detailviews of the foot levers for operating the spray regulating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the I shell of the sprinklinghead. This is preferably cylindrical and is closed at one end by a head2 and at the opposite end is provided with an inlet or threaded throat 3by which it is attached to a water supply pipe 4 leading from a suitabletank. Substantially midway of its length the shell 1 is provided with acircumferential slot 5. This constitutes a discharge opening and may bemade of any length desired to suit the particular use to which it is tobe put; the longer the slot, the greater the spread of the spray. When atime, and I provide means for varymg the Width of said slot in order toregulate the volume of discharge. Fixed within the shell 1 is acylindrical lining 6, preferably of brass, and extending almost thelength of the shell. The lining 6 is cut away as shown in Figs. 3 and 4the width of the cut-away portion being co-extensive with the length ofthe slot 5 and extending from the side of the slot nearest to the inlet3 to the end of the lining nearest the head 2. The ed e 7 of thecut-away portion, is thus flush wit the edge 5 of the slot 5; hence, thelining 6 does not in any degree close the slot 5 or interfere with thedischarge of water therefrom. The portion which is removed from thecylinder 6 is slidably mounted in place and constitutes a slide valve 8.The edges 9 of the valve fit snugly against the edges 10 of the lining6, holding the valve in place. It is evident that by moving the valve 8longitudinally of the shell the width of the slot will be varied and thevolume of dischar e regulated accordingly.

To move the valve I provide the following mechanism: Extending throu h astuffing box 11 in the head 2 of the she l 1, is a shaft 12, providedwith the collars 13 and 14 to prevent endwise movement thereof. Theinner end of the shaft is screw threaded through a flange 15 formed onor fixed to the valve 8. By turning the shaft 12 to the right or left,the valve will be moved to open or close the slot 5 or to vary itswidth. The movement of the valve is limited by the head 2 and the edge 7of the lining member 6, hence, there is no danger. of the flange 15leaving the threaded end of the shaft 12. Any

suitable means may be employed to turn the shaft. To this end a handwheel could be provided thereon, and inasmuch as the position of thevalve is changed but seldom after having been once set, will cause butlittle inconvenlence in operation. However, I prefer to have the valveoperable from the front of the vehicle, and for this purpose, providethe operating device shown in the drawings. In the several figures ofthe drawings, I have shown the s rinkler as applied to a street railwaysprin ding car, of which, 16 indicates the bed or floor terminating ateach end in a platform 17 17 for the motorman or operator. 18 indicatesthe water tank. Upon the shaft 12 is a sprocket wheel 19, connected by achain 20 to a sprocket wheel 21 on a cross shaft 22. The shaft 22 issuitably supported beneath the car and is provided with sprocket wheels23 and 24. These are connected to crank shafts 25 25 upon the respectiveplatforms 17 17 by chains 26. Hence, the valve may be operated fromeither end of the car.

Although I have shown and described a specific form of mechanism foroperating the valve it is obvious that other means may be employedwithout departing from the scope of my invention. Also, when the deviceis used on a sprinkling wagon it is but necessary to carry the operatingmechanism to one end thereof.

To vary the width of the spray, to cover the desired space, and toprovide means for momentarily cutting off the spray from one side, whenpassing another vehicle, or pedestrians, I equip the device with.auxiliary valves. These constitute a pair of semi-cylindrical members 2727 having one edge 27 cut at an angle. (See Fig. 3). By moving i isprovided with a web 28 by which it is secured to a stem 29 extendingthrough a stuffing box 30 on the head 2. The end of each stem 29 isbifurcated and provided with a roller 31 between which and a pin 32 isarranged a lever 33. The levers 33 are pivotally connected to brackets33 secured to the head 2 and constitute a portion of the means foroperating the valves 27. To the other ends of the levers 33 are securedthe cables 34 which pass to the ends of the car and are attached to theends of bell crank levers 35 arranged upon the platform of the car in aposition to be readily operated by the foot of the motorman. The levers35 are arranged close enough together to permit the motorman to depressboth at the same time with one foot; however, it is obvious that eithercan be operated independently of the other. 36 indicates a notchedsegment arranged be tween the levers 35 by means of which the levers,and hence, the valves, may be held in any desired position. When thelevers 35 are released the pressure of the water impinging against thewebs 28 quickly throws the valves 27 back, opening the slot 5 to itsfull length. When the water is to be used under pressure, as isfrequently the case, the area of the webs 28 may be reduced in order tolessen the force required to close the valves 27. If two sprinkler headsare used, it is evident that but one valve 27 is needed in each head.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a spraying head comprising asubstantially cylindrical shell having a circumferentially disposeddischarge opening therein, a water supply pipe secured to one endthereof and a suitable head closing the opposite end in combination witha cylindrical lining therein, said lining being cut away to form waysfor a valve, a valve mounted therein and adapted to move longitudinallyof said shell to vary the width of said discharge opening, another valvearranged within said lining and having an angularly disposed edgeadapted to be moved across said discharge opening to vary the lengththereof and suitable means for operating said valves, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a device of the class described, a spraying head comprising asubstantially cylindrical shell having a circumferentially seam disposeddischarge opening therein, a water supply pipe secured to one endthereof and a suitable head closing the opposite end, in.

combination with a valve adapted to move longitudinally in said shell tovary the width of said discharge opening, a screw for operating saidvalve, another valve arranged within the casing and having an angularlydisposed edge adapted to move across said discharge opening to vary thelength thereof and means for operating said valve, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the class described, a spraying head comprising asubstantially cylindrical shell having a circumferentially disposeddischarge opening therein, a water supply pipe secured to one endthereof and a suitable head closing the opposite end in combination witha valve adapted to move longitudinally in sa'd shell to vary the widthof said discharge opening, means for operating said valve, a pair ofsimilar valves having oppositely inclined edges adapted to move acrosssaid discharge opening to vary the length thereof and means foroperating said valves independently of each other, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a device of the class described a spraying head comprising asubstantially cylindrical shell having a circumferentially disposeddischarge opening therein, a water supply pipe secured to one endthereof and a suitable head closing the opposite end in combination witha valve adapted to move longisaid web through said head for operatingsaid valve to vary the width of said discharge opening, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNARD KORTAS.

Witnesses:

H. S. AUSTIN, HELEN F. LILLIs.

